ALBANY, Ga. -- Barry L. Brown, co-author of a new guide to Civil War sites in Georgia, will be at the Albany Welcome Center at 112 N. Front St. to sign copies of his book from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday.

The event is free and open to the public.

Based on a comprehensive survey of sites identified by the Georgia Civil War Commission, "Crossroads of Conflict" covers 350 historic sites in detail, bringing the experience of the war to life.

Written by Georgia Civil War Commission staff members Barry L. Brown and Gordon R. Elwell and published by the University of Georgia Press in association with the Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Humanities Council, the book is arranged geographically, separating the state into nine distinct regions.

For each site, the guide provides a detailed history, driving directions, online resources and GPS coordinates. The war experiences of all Georgians, not just soldiers, are addressed within the guide's text, and both color photographs and period images document locations such as battlefields, POW camps, hospitals, houses, buildings, bridges, cemeteries and monuments.

The guide is part of Georgia's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which began in 1861 and will be marked by many activities throughout 2011.